388 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



** lity. He will follow ihee wherefoever thou goefl, 

 •* over the land, over the fnow, and into the wa- 

 " ter. He will acccmpany thee in the chace, nay, 

 ** to the field of battle. He will be to thee, at 

 ** all feafons, a faithful companion, and a fymbol 

 ** of my afFedion." As the day was drawing to a 

 clofe, fhe reminded me that it was time to retire, 

 defiring me, in future, not to come down along the 

 current of the river, but to travel by land on the 

 banks, till I came oppofite to her ifland, where 

 her women fliould be in waiting to ferry me over, 

 and thus conceal our mutual felicity from jealous 

 eyes. 1 took my leave of her, and returned to my 

 home, forming in my own mind., as I went on 

 my way, a thoufand agreeable projeds. 



One day as I was going to vifit her, through 

 a path cut out in the foreft, in compliance with 

 the advice which fne had given me, 1 met one of 

 the principal larles, attended by a great number 

 of his vaflals. They were armed as if they had 

 been in a ftate of Vv'ar. For my part, 1 wore no 

 armour, like a man who was at peace with all the 

 World, and whofe mind was occupied only wiih 

 the reveries of love. The larle advanced toward 

 me with a haughty air, and thus accofted me: 

 " What feeked thou in this country of warriors, 

 *' with thefe womanifh arts <-f thine ? Meaneft 

 *' thou to teach us how to Ipin ilax, and ex- 



**pe(5teft 



